New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-14
ALMOST A RIOT IN BOSTON.
ANGRY STRIKERS CAPTURE A STREET CAR.
THE POLICE ACT PRonlPTLY AND SERIOUS TROUBLE
Is FOR f1FE TINE AvEnrED.
lBY TELEGRAPH no THE rRrBuxr.,

40 ron tuE TINE AVERTED.
BY TELEGRAPH no THE rRIBUxEl
BosTON. Fen. 13.-The promptness of the police
checked an alarming riot in this city at noon 70.
day. The lockOuts of the Cambridge and South
Boston Street Railroad men had been accompanied
by only minor acts Of lawessness up to to-day, but
an ugly spirit has bean growing and the police
authorities have been apprehending trouble. To-
day excited men appeared in Broadway, South
Boston, early in the morning and collected near r
st., at the foot Of steep decline At 1880 o'clock
. car with policemen on its platforms came along.
There was q heavy load OF passengers and the
horses stopped to rest Hundreds Of men sur.
rounded the car, each one yelling until he grew red
in tho face Clubs were swung in front
Of tho horses until the poor animals
reared and plunged and tried to escape. The driver
could scarcely hold them. The car could not move.
for pieces Of iron had been wedged beneath the
wheels. The handful of police officers tried 10
press the crowd back. but they might as we'll have
tried to move Bunker Hill. The crowd, RAPIDLY
warming up to the assauIting point lacked only .
leader. The officers drew their clubs and prepared
to fight. Other officers along the street who saw
the crowd hurried to the assistance of their felowa
but they could not work their way through the
dense mass of humanity.
A lad on the outskirts of tho
crowd threw large stone at the car.
1t went crashing through the window, but
the passengers escaped injury. The sound of break
ing glass famed the fame that was already burn
ing. The crowd began to make serious move
toward the driver aud conductor. At this critical
moment shout was heard and strong body OF
police was hurrying to the relief Of the other
officers. They came from Station No. 8, and ct the
same time mounted officers came dashing at full
speed from the other direction. Tie danger was
over. Again the police signal had prevented .
serious riot .ergeant Dinsmore OF Station No. o.
grasped the situation as soon as the stopped
and hurrying to the nearest signal-box scot for
help. Captain Edredge sent all his reserves
and telegrsphed to Station No. IL for
mounted officers. Before this stalwart force
the crowd rapidly melted. One fellow struck
mounted officer with club and was promptly
arrested The police were soon IN possession OF the
street. Five prisoners had been taken and no one
had been seriously wounded few OF the hood.
luns who at frat refused To move thought better Of
it when the comm1pd was enforced with club.
The police wagon had been busy all this time.
The lad who threw the stone was first arrested and
three four of the more prominent rloters were
also secured This broke the spirit OF the mob ana
1t SUNK away slown the side streets In fifteen
minutes the hOO1ums had been comple pletely routed.
Wnen thus trouble was reported. the Board OF
Police advised the company not to run any moro
cars. The company saw the wisdom of the advice
and ordered tie cars to stop running at O'clock.
The last cars which appeared were hindered IN ono
or two instances by exploding railroad tOrpedoes
and paving stones which were pushed under the
wheels,